Colleges Against Cancer. Guidebook

Colleges Against Cancer

Guidebook

Table of

Contents

Colleges Against Cancer

What is Colleges Against Cancer? ...2

The Four Strategic Directions and Your Chapter ... 2

The Purpose and History of Colleges Against Cancer ... 5

Chapter Structure and Organization ... 6

Leadership ... 11

Transitioning Leadership ... 13

Effective Programs ... 14

Advocacy

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) ... 19

Advocacy Best Practices ... 21

How to ... and Legal Guidance ... 24

Effective Programs ... 29

Cancer Education

Suggested Timeline ... 33

Breast Cancer Awareness ... 33

Tobacco ... 36

Healthy Living ... 39

Effective Programs ... 42

Relay For Life

Chapters as Relay For Life Teams... 46

Chapters Managing Relay For Life Events ... 50

Implementing the Strategic Directions at Relay For Life Events ... 52

Expansion and Growth of Colleges Against Cancer at Relay For Life Events ... 53

Effective Programs ... 55

Survivorship

Recruiting Survivors on Campus ... 60

Survivorship Program Ideas ... 60

Involvement Year-round ... 62

Survivorship at Relay For Life Events ... 67

Society-specific Programs ... 69

What is Colleges Against Cancer?

Colleges Against Cancer Mission Statement:

The American Cancer Society Colleges Against Cancer is a nationwide

collaboration of college students, faculty, and staff dedicated to saving lives from cancer by initiating and supporting programs of the American Cancer Society in college communities.

Designed and administered by college students from across the country, Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) enables students and staff to work through different channels to help people stay well, get well, find cures, and fight back against this disease. CAC’s strategic directions focus on advocacy, cancer education, the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®_{, and survivorship. Local chapters work alongside}

their local offices as well as national leadership to support the efforts of the Society in these directions. The four strategic directions of Colleges Against Cancer serve as a structural base for the program, nationwide and at each individual chapter. In addition to leadership within the four strategic directions, there are also several other vital positions to a CAC chapter’s structure.

The Four Strategic Directions and Your Chapter

Student Point of Contact (Chapter President)

The chapter point of contact is, in most cases, the chapter president. This student should develop and maintain a relationship with the local American Cancer Society

Colleges Against

Colleges Against

Cancer

office. The student will also serve as a point of contact for the CAC National Executive Council. This lead will distribute national CAC program updates and facilitate the work of the CAC chapter.

1) Advocacy

The efforts of the Colleges Against Cancer advocacy chairperson is to increase awareness of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s SM _{(ACS CAN)}

legislative priorities by maintaining current information on nationwide advocacy initiatives and by developing plans and projects suitable for the campus community. Examples include:

• Educating members about advocacy and why it is important to make cancer a

legislative priority

• Supporting grassroots advocacy efforts related to cancer-related policies, such as

anti-tobacco activities

• Promoting and adapting nationwide advocacy programs and events to the

college campus

• Implementing advocacy activities at Relay For Life

2) Cancer Education

The CAC cancer education chairperson promotes and adapts American Cancer Society education and prevention programs to the campus community, emphasizing the need to avoid high-risk behaviors and the importance of following cancer screening guidelines to stay well. This chairperson will promote efforts that focus on these main issues:

• Breast cancer

• Anti-tobacco awareness

• Healthy lifestyle behaviors, including nutrition, physical activity, and sun safety

3) Relay For Life

The CAC Relay For Life chairperson will ensure the chapter is involved in this American Cancer Society signature activity. The chair will also encourage and help facilitate advocacy, cancer education, and survivorship activities at the event. Chapters can participate in a Relay For Life event by:

• Starting, planning, and implementing a Relay For Life on campus • Joining an existing Relay For Life committee or forming a team

• Maintaining a strong relationship between the chapter and existing campus or

Colleges Against

Cancer

4) Survivorship

The CAC survivorship chairperson encourages outreach to campus and community survivors and caregivers. In doing so, those affected by cancer can share

experiences that will help them to further cope as well as find hope and healing. Examples include:

• Visiting cancer patients at the local hospital • Hosting a survivor reception or luminaria ceremony • Coordinating survivorship activities at Relay For Life events

Staff Partner

The American Cancer Society staff partner assists the volunteer leadership of the chapter in understanding American Cancer Society processes and information. The staff partner will provide guidance for planning and implementing activities on campus and will work with colleagues to ensure the office provides information about advocacy, cancer education, Relay For Life, and survivorship to the appropriate chairpersons. The Society staff partner will also provide and share information with other CAC staff from across the country.

Faculty Advisor (Optional position used on some campuses)

The faculty advisor will assist the chapter as outlined below:

• Act as a liaison to the university administration and faculty for the CAC student

group. Troubleshoot when necessary and ensure the chapter is following university guidelines.

• Attend chapter meetings or meet periodically with the CAC chapter and/or

chapter lead volunteer to receive chapter updates.

• Offer guidance and suggestions for CAC programs and events based on

experience and the perceived needs of the campus population.

• Guide the students through the university system as they plan projects and

events. Offer knowledge of funding opportunities when necessary and appropriate. Help obtain meeting space or supplies as needed.

Colleges Against

Cancer

The Purpose and History of Colleges Against Cancer

The Purpose of Colleges Against Cancer

Simply put, we are here to help save lives from cancer.

We are here to share hope by helping people stay well, helping people get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back. We use tools and our creativity to initiate and support programs of the American Cancer Society that will one day lead us to a cure and a world with more birthdays.

The History of Colleges Against Cancer

In 2001, three college freshmen friends came together to discuss the challenges many American Cancer Society youth volunteers were facing. Students across the country were passionate about fighting cancer; they wanted to bring students from their college campuses together to plan a Relay For Life event, and possibly do even more to support the Society’s mission.

These students worked to determine the details of the program – structure, title, communication paths, and resources. It was decided that the program would be advised nationally by a team of college student volunteers. CAC strategy and national support is led by the Colleges Against Cancer Executive Council with the following positions: Relay For Life, survivorship, advocacy, cancer education, training and growth, and communications.

Our Colleges Against Cancer Values

The American Cancer Society has a long-standing tradition of mobilizing volunteers to address cancer issues within communities across the US. The Society is proud to partner with college students because this vital partnership can help save lives from cancer while giving college students valuable volunteer experience.

We value:

• Opportunity – All college volunteers should have the opportunity to help save lives from cancer on their campus.

• Teamwork – By working together as a team of students, faculty, and Society staff, we can support the American Cancer Society’s mission of saving lives from cancer and creating a world with more birthdays.

Colleges Against

Cancer

• Progress – As each day passes, we can help others to stay well and get well by sharing the latest information on how to prevent cancer or detect it early, to raise awareness about the need for continuing to fund groundbreaking research into cancer’s causes and cures, and to fight back through advocacy initiatives.

• Honor – We honor the rich history of the Society as a leader in the fight against cancer and protect its reputation in our efforts to fulfill the Colleges Against Cancer vision.

Chapter Structure and Organization

Have you or someone you know completed an internship with a successful business? Have you studied corporate organizational structure in one of your courses? If so, you probably noticed that each person in the organization has responsibility for specific tasks and that clear and consistent communication is critical. Your CAC chapter is no different; a defined structure and organization will keep your chapter running smoothly.

Establishing Your Colleges Against Cancer Chapter Structure As you establish chapter structure, remember to:

• Clearly define each committee position’s responsibilities.

• Establish a communication plan within your chapter. Who will maintain regular

communication with your local Society office? How will each committee chair submit updates to this person? Who will help interested volunteers find the right “job” within your CAC chapter?

• Plan committee meetings as often as necessary, but ensure that your time

together is useful.

• Consider planning a CAC chapter retreat for your committee. It is important to

establish strong bonds and understand each other’s communication styles to ensure successful chapter operation.

Colleges Against

Cancer

Chapter Best Practice Structure

As mentioned, CAC chapters focus on four strategic directions: 1. Advocacy

2. Cancer education (mission delivery, prevention, early detection, screening guidelines)

3. Relay For Life 4. Survivorship

In addition, most chapters have a lead point of contact, the president. Your Society staff partner is also a huge piece of the chapter structure. This person provides the chapter with information from the Society and guidance as you plan chapter activities and goals.

Having a CAC chapter provides several advantages when executing a Relay For Life event on campus. A committee structure is already in place when Relay planning begins, making it easier to identify committee leaders who will help plan the event. If your Relay is held in the spring, the chairpersons of the remaining three strategic directions are likely “experts” in their areas and can help plan activities that will be fun and impactful during the Relay event. When Relay season approaches, most CAC chapters devote most of their efforts to the Relay For Life event they are planning on participating in, and this is OK.

Here is a suggested chapter structure:

President

Advocacy

Chair Cancer Education Chair PresidentVice Relay For Life Chair Additional Chapter Positions

Chapter Volunteers

Survivorship Chair

Colleges Against

Cancer

Additional Chapter Positions

The CAC and Relay For Life relationship functions successfully in different ways on campus. In some instances, the CAC chapter hosts the campus Relay. If this is the case, Relay For Life is one of the most important events your CAC chapter executes; however, many chapters also plan additional events throughout the year that require substantial preparation. A variety of events gives the chapter multiple opportunities to educate and interact with your campus.

If your chapter size allows for it, consider implementing a structure that is adaptable to multiple events – Relay For Life included! If your chapter committee is small, consider combining and adjusting positions to cover the tasks needed for smooth operation. Here are some suggested additional positions with examples of their roles in your CAC chapter and Relay For Life event:

Establish relationships with local Society office; share and collect information with the CAC national leadership team; oversee all chairs and volunteers and work with faculty advisor.

Support chapter president; oversee the additional chair positions.

Familiarize self and chapter members with the Society’s legislative priorities; develop advocacy plans and projects to support school and community. President

Vice President

Advocacy Chair

Oversee planning, execution, and evaluation of Relay For Life or work directly with Relay For Life planning committee. Support volunteers.

Assist chapter president.

Encourage committee to plan and execute advocacy event at Relay.

Colleges Against

Cancer

Chair Position CAC Chapter Role Relay For Life Role

Cancer Education Chair

Relay For Life Chair

Survivorship Chair

Corporate Relations Chair

Data Chair

Entertainment Chair

Educate self on Society education and prevention programs; provide direction to committee to create

unique programs/activities to

increase awareness at your school or community.

Ensure the chapter is involved in planning and participating in Relay; encourage four strategic directions to plan an activity for the event. Locate survivors on campus with support of Society office; guide committee to provide opportunities for survivors and caregivers to share experiences, cope, and celebrate life.

Establish relationships with area businesses; find food and venues for events and meetings.

Take meeting minutes; update members with meeting minutes; maintain CAC chapter Web site; send reminder emails to members. Plain social events for CAC chapter; secure entertainment for large chapter events.

Encourage committee to plan

and execute cancer education/

mission activities at event Relay and team captain meetings.

Oversee committee through planning, promotion, execution, and evaluation of Relay.

Encourage committee to plan and execute survivorship event at Relay For Life.

Find sponsorship and food for Relay event.

Maintain Relay team rosters; assist treasurer with aspects of Relay.

Secure entertainment for Relay For Life.

Colleges Against

Cancer

While modifying your CAC chapter structure may require some significant changes at first, the end result will be a chapter that operates efficiently and communicates effectively.

Recruiting a Strong and Dependable Membership Base

Here are some best practices and ideas for places where you can you find volunteers for your chapter:

• Relay For Life committee members and participants

• Cancer survivor scholarship recipients (contact your local Society office for more

information)

• Service organizations: There are a variety of service fraternities and organizations

on campuses that are dedicated to service and might be willing to help.

• Pre-professional organizations: Many of these organizations require their

members to complete service hours, and they are often made up of students who enjoy being involved in extracurricular activities.

Chair Position CAC Chapter Role Relay For Life Role

Handle logistics for CAC chapter events.

Publicize all CAC chapter events.

Work with Society staff partner to manage finances of chapter. Serve as a support for interested volunteers; receive forwarded information for interested volunteers from all other CAC members; help volunteers find the committee they would like to work with.

Handle logistics for Relay For Life.

Publicize Relay For Life and team recruitment.

Work with Society staff partner to manage finances of Relay For Life. Work closely with team captains; “host” team captains.

Logistics Chair

Publicity Chair

Treasurer Chair

Volunteer Development

Colleges Against

Cancer

• Majors with relative focuses: Certain majors and programs on campus are a

resource for dedicated volunteers. For example, education and nursing majors are often very interested in service opportunities and are great working with people. Place fliers in the buildings where classes for a particular major are held, and even ask a professor to mention your cause at the beginning of a lecture.

• Campus volunteer fairs: Having a table at a volunteer fair is a great place to

reach incoming students because they are looking for volunteer opportunities for the coming year.

Leadership

To maximize the effectiveness of your Colleges Against Cancer chapter, it is important for members to have a confident, well-rounded leader to serve as a role model. The following pages outline important skills and valuable information to develop or enhance your ability to lead. A great way to build leadership skills throughout your entire chapter is to highlight a portion of this guide at each meeting. Ultimately, these attributes will increase the effectiveness of your chapter’s efforts to fight cancer on campus. Continue reading to learn more about:

• Delegating • Communicating • Transitioning leadership

Leaders stand out by the nature of their commitment and the integrity of their character.

Responsibility and Task Delegation

When a leader defines the tasks to be accomplished and helps uninvolved members become an important part of the success, he is delegating. By trusting volunteers with different tasks, members feel empowered to help achieve success. When they feel successful, volunteers are more likely to remain committed to your CAC chapter’s future goals and projects. As a leader, delegating tasks allows you to focus on other, more difficult, tasks.

A leader who delegates authority:

• Determines what needs to be done and shares responsibility with the group • Clarifies the intended result

Colleges Against

Cancer

• Is easily approached by volunteers who have questions or need advice • Checks in with volunteers to track progress

• Provides necessary resources to assist volunteers

• Shares confidence and appreciation to volunteers for their assistance

Group Facilitation

Unclear group communication can be the source of distress. To avoid this, consider these tips when leading a discussion:

• Repeat questions aloud to the group to ensure that all members hear.

• Answer questions with confidence – if you do not know the answer, then say

so. Then find out the answer and follow up.

• Keep the group focused on the purpose of the meeting.

• Point out similarities in the messages different members are sharing.

• Consider all contributions and kindly move away from those that are off topic. • Correct inaccurate facts or conclusions.

• Make eye contact with members who have not had a chance to answer; avoid

making eye contact with those who monopolize the discussion.

As important as it is to direct your chapter’s discussion toward an end goal, actively listen to members’ thoughts and concerns.

• Give the speaker your full attention. If you are preoccupied with something else,

it is nearly impossible to be a good listener.

• Restate, in your own words, what the speaker has said once he has finished

talking. Be sure not to interrupt.

• Reflect on what you have heard by stating the feelings that you think have

been conveyed. By acknowledging the speaker’s feelings, he will know that you support his thoughts.

• Clarify your perception through questions. This will ensure that you have

understood the speaker’s message.

• Maintain good body language.

Body language has a measurable impact on communication and the listener’s interpretation of the conversation.

• Make good eye contact with the speaker.

• Maintain good posture. Adopt an “open” stance with arms by your side. • Use gestures when appropriate.

Colleges Against

Cancer

• Use facial expressions to demonstrate your interest and understanding. • Nod to recognize that you have heard what the speaker has to say.

It is important to ask for people’s opinions at regular intervals, whether it is throughout a discussion or the semester.

Here are some ways to obtain effective feedback:

• During meetings, regularly ask the group if they are following the conversation.

Invite them to share their opinion on the subject at hand.

• Distribute and collect feedback through short surveys after large events and at

regular intervals throughout the year. Collecting information anonymously will encourage honesty in responses.

Transitioning Leadership

A great way to ensure smooth chapter leadership transition is by having committee co-chairs, one underclassman, and one upperclassman. When the upperclassman graduates, there is now a trained underclassman in place to take over the committee chair responsibilities.

Transition planning is crucial to the long-term success of your CAC chapter. Work with your Society staff partner and committee to set your three-year goals, and

include a CAC Volunteer Career Plan to identify new leaders and transition them

into committee chair positions.

While losing seasoned leaders may seem to be a challenge, it also presents a unique opportunity to recruit new volunteers and continuously gain new ideas. As the school year progresses, each committee should identify leaders who have demonstrated an interest and the ability to take on a larger role in the chapter. An

ideal CAC Volunteer Career Plan will include opportunities for incoming committee

chairs to shadow outgoing leaders as the year ends. Invite the incoming chairs to attend chapter leadership meetings, so they will have a good understanding of how the chapter operates before they are in their role.

Colleges Against

Cancer

Here are some additional tips for transitioning leaders:

• From the start of the year, begin identifying emerging leaders.

• Encourage potential leaders to take on a leadership role, and help them develop

skills and awareness about the chapter’s goals. Serve as a role model for them by demonstrating an effective leadership style.

• Hold elections for new leadership halfway through the second semester.

• Meet with newly elected leaders to orient them to their new roles, and set goals

for the next year together.

• Outgoing leader(s) can hold meetings with the person filling their role in the

chapter to explain duties more in detail

• Invite outgoing leader(s) to remain in contact with the new leader(s) throughout

the following year. This relationship can be more formalized by naming the outgoing leader(s) as advisors.

• Transfer information and materials to new leadership.

• Plan the second to last meeting as one group, with both the outgoing and

new leadership.

• Document steps taken throughout the year in a binder to provide a detailed

guide for new leader(s).

• Invite the new leadership to plan the adjourning meeting, with the outgoing

leaders attending to provide support.

Effective Programs

With a strong base of CAC history, committee structure, and leadership skills, your chapter is well equipped to begin implementing programs in the four strategic directions of CAC: advocacy, cancer education, Relay For Life, and survivorship. This portion of the CAC training program will provide you with a guide to event management and detailed best practices instruction for each of the four strategic directions.

Program Preparation

Plan, promote, execute, and evaluate

Once the chapter (the executive board, leadership team, a specific event planning committee, or the entire chapter) has agreed on an event or activity for your campus or community, the first step is to consider all aspects of the event or activity by

Colleges Against

Cancer

planning, promoting, executing, and evaluating. It is critical to complete this cycle for each event or activity because each will benefit and target a slightly different audience. For instance, will the audience be the campus community, cancer survivors, a local children’s hospital, or maybe students at an elementary school? Will your event help achieve the mission of saving lives?

Beginning with initial planning and throughout the event, recall the mission and vision of the Colleges Against Cancer program. Does your event or activity help maintain the American Cancer Society’s mission of saving lives from cancer and creating a world with more birthdays?

Program Planning

Once you have decided on a project, start the actual planning. Plan an event by using a worksheet or by writing on a large flip chart so the entire planning committee can view the notes. If your committee has difficulty brainstorming ideas, utilize your resources. The CAC monthly newsletter, monthly conference calls, the CAC Web site, and the program suggestions listed below can give you direction. As a leader in program planning, remember to:

• Review previous follow-up notes on the event (if applicable). What was successful? What wasn’t successful? Did any students ask for additional resources?

• Carefully examine the specific needs of your campus and community.

Is your campus on the verge of becoming smoke-free? Did your last advocacy campaign inspire students to ask for information on future legislation?

• Allow all volunteers participating in the planning process a chance to voice their opinion. It is often beneficial to hear the opinions and ideas of each committee member. This interaction among committee members is what leads to the best ideas! By actively contributing to the planning process, the committee member is more likely to remain committed to the rest of the event process.

• Delegate responsibilities. Once the planning committee has agreed on a plan, divide the tasks necessary to make the event possible. In some cases, you may be working with other committee chairs who already exist within your CAC

chapter. For example, your treasurer or corporate relations/sponsorship chair

Colleges Against

Cancer

cover other costs that may occur. Your secretary might be the person who files project proposals to your college administration for permission to hold the event or activity.

• Consider the details of your plan. If your staff partner was not present when the committee began planning an event, communicate your ideas to him. With your staff partner, carefully consider all of the details of your plan:

– What materials will your committee need? How many of each item will your committee need? How will your committee obtain those materials? – How many volunteers will be needed to execute the event? How will you

organize the volunteer schedule?

– Does your committee need to obtain permission or permits from your school or city?

Program Promotion

With effective marketing and publicity, your event or activity will have even greater impact. As a leader in program promotion:

• Think “outside the box.” Maybe it’s a progressive poster campaign with more information each week leading up to the event, or perhaps you can hang pairs of shoes in trees around campus to create buzz about your event. Either way, your event is competing with many others on campus, and it’s worth the effort to find creative and recognizable ways to attract attention and let students know that it’s one they don’t want to miss.

• Specifically address your target audience. Planning an event about childhood cancer? The elementary education majors on your campus may be eager to hear more about it. Notify local media sources that can help you reach your target audience, such as your college newspaper, department newsletters, or a college activity board. Invite the media in the community to cover the event as well.

• Brand the event as an American Cancer Society and Colleges Against Cancer activity. The Society has a reputation as a trusted health care

organization and as a source of accurate information. By letting your audience knows that Colleges Against Cancer is a Society program, your chapter can bolster its own reputation.

Colleges Against

Cancer

Program Execution

The day of your event has arrived. Gather volunteers together and give them any day-of-event information they need. Leave them feeling energized and ready to help save lives from cancer and create a world with more birthdays!

• Consider the details of your execution. Will the volunteers need

transportation, food, or water throughout the event? Is appropriate safety gear available, if needed? Will someone take pictures? This is a great way to show prospective committee members the chapter’s activities.

• Support the event volunteers. Even if you will not be able to attend the entire event, ensure that volunteers have your contact information. Leave materials in a previously discussed place with clear instructions.

• Show your appreciation. Make sure to let event volunteers and the rest of the planning committee know how much you appreciate all of their help. After all, the event would not be possible if it were not for their time and efforts. Program Evaluation

Congratulations! You have completed your event and made a difference in the fight against cancer!

Spend time with the planning committee evaluating the event.

What aspects of the event went well? What did not go well? Did the event have the impact your planning committee expected?

• Document notes for future reference. Chapters should document the outcome and details of events for the future. Consider creating a worksheet that each committee chair can use to document the planning process, contact information, and post-event evaluations. For example, if the planning committee knows from the previous breast cancer awareness event that 10 spools of pink ribbon was not enough, the committee will know to purchase more the following year.

• Send notes of gratitude to those who helped make the event possible.

The notes can be short, but it’s the thought that counts. Show your gratitude to the school administrator who went out of his way to secure the date of the event, and he will be even more likely to help your chapter next time.

What is advocacy?

An advocate is someone who actively supports or speaks in favor of an issue or cause. By taking part in something you believe in, you are an advocate. As a Colleges Against Cancer member, you are encouraged to take part in legislative advocacy, meaning that you will engage in activities that may change laws, policies, or legislation at a local, state, or federal level. The goal of CAC’s advocacy is to positively impact the lives of individuals touched by cancer. Cancer is a political issue, not just a health issue. How does involvement in politics help fight cancer? Well, our government can fund cancer research, awareness, and prevention programs, provide access to quality care, and eliminate health disparities in cancer screening and treatment. We can make this happen through advocacy. Some examples of advocacy include:

• Writing and signing petitions – Fighting for insurance coverage for

cancer patients

• Raising awareness on your campus – Sharing your story

• Communicating with public officials via mail, email, phone, or fax

A Perfect Fit: Advocacy through Colleges Against Cancer

Young adults, including CAC members, are important members in the fight against cancer. By fighting for laws that protect cancer patients and that fund cancer research, college students can help save lives from cancer. Advocacy is an outlet that allows a student’s voice and concerns regarding cancer to be heard at a local, state, and federal level.

Advocacy

CAC Advocacy Chairs

Including an advocacy chair on your committee can ensure that advocacy remains a priority for your CAC chapter. The advocacy chair aims to increase awareness of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) legislative priorities by developing projects and events suitable for the campus community. Some examples of advocacy events include advocating for federal legislative priorities and promoting advocacy at Relay For Life events.

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)

What Is ACS CAN?

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society. ACS CAN supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem as well as encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN is leading a nationwide grassroots army that is working to ensure that the 11 million survivors of this disease are seen and heard by lawmakers. Colleges Against Cancer participants are an important part of this army.

ACS CAN is taking action by – among other things – creating a smoke-free country, educating lawmakers and citizens about a variety of cancer issues, building a grassroots army, guaranteeing that all women have access to lifesaving breast cancer screening and treatment, and ensuring that all college students are able to take medical leave from their coursework without affecting their insurance coverage. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer by training them to make their voices be heard.

The Society vs. ACS CAN

The American Cancer Society and ACS CAN are independent organizations that share the same goals: to save lives from cancer. Due to its tax status with the Internal Revenue Service, the Society has limited ability to engage in legislative advocacy. ACS CAN, however, has a different tax status, allowing for participation in more legislative activities. As a result, ACS CAN can engage in more advocacy activities at the local, state, and federal levels of government, opening the door to

Advocacy

advocacy tactics and tools not currently available to the Society. As the Society’s advocacy and lobbying affiliate, ACS CAN provides the muscle necessary to bring attention to issues relative to research funding, access to quality care, prevention, early detection, and treatment. ACS CAN also serves as a trusted source of information about candidate positions on cancer-related concerns.

Advocacy Staff Partner

Each Society Division has specific staff dedicated to advocacy activities. These advocacy staff partners are experts on ACS CAN priorities and legislative activity in your region. They also can assist in planning and coordinating advocacy activities on your campus.

Using your advocacy staff partner is instrumental in holding any type of advocacy event. This person can provide you with ideas and resources that have been successful on other campuses, as well as offer any information on policies and procedures that need to be followed. Activities should be coordinated with both your chapter Society staff member as well as your advocacy staff member. To locate

the contact information for your advocacy partner, visit acscan.org/cac and click on

Advocacy Staff in Your State.

ACS CAN Membership Recruitment

Recruiting ACS CAN members on college campuses across the country is an important goal for CAC. We need to make sure that students are represented and included in the ACS CAN grassroots army, determined to help save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

ACS CAN is a membership organization, which means that its efforts are supported by membership dues. For example, member dues provide ACS CAN with funding to create voter guides that ACS CAN uses to educate voters as well as hold elected officials accountable after Election Day has passed. All money raised for ACS CAN is separate from the Society. Due to IRS regulations, ACS CAN has no access to monies raised at Relay For Life or other Society fundraisers. Therefore, in order to be a member of ACS CAN, we ask for a small contribution.

Becoming a member is easy and costs only $10. With the $10 membership, members receive a legislative welcome kit that includes a membership card,

Advocacy

alerts when Congress and state legislatures are debating critical cancer legislation. In addition, members can access a monthly ACS CAN Inside Washington update on a members’ only section of acscan.org.

Because ACS CAN uses your donations to support its citizen-based advocacy and lobbying efforts to save lives from cancer, contributions or gifts to ACS CAN are not tax deductible.

Advocacy at Relay For Life

Relay For Life is an ideal way to get college students involved in advocacy.

The advocacy chair should provide advocacy updates at Relay committee and team captain meetings, as well as facilitate advocacy activities at the actual Relay event. More information on advocacy during Relay For Life events is available in the

Relay For Life Advocacy Guidebook located at acscan.org/resources.

Social Networking

As you know, Facebook has become a useful tool in mobilizing hundreds and even thousands of people with just one click. ACS CAN and CAC have joined together to ensure we are reaching our college students with important information and calls to action. Encourage CAC members to join two Facebook groups (listed below) in order to receive updates on important legislation regarding the fight against cancer. Action alerts and other information are sent regularly via these groups. So stay informed and join today!

• American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network • American Cancer Society Colleges Against Cancer

Advocacy Best Practices

There are many ways you can become involved in advocacy on your campuses. We’ve included some examples of past successful campaigns to get you started! In general, advocacy events can range from presenting advocacy information and petitions at campus fairs to attending a lobby day. The opportunities are endless!

Advocacy

Funding for Lifesaving Research:

Easy: Petition-signing for increased cancer research funding

Participate in online/phone in/ texting action alerts.

Moderate: Be a “life saver”: Pass out Life Savers candies to students with facts about cancer research funding cuts.

Involved: “Support the Ones You Love” Day (February): Wear red or pink and visit your local lawmakers’ offices to urge them to support increased funding for cancer research.

Anti-tobacco Activities:

Easy: “Be Thankful You Have a Voice” cards (around Thanksgiving): Urge

your legislators to support anti-tobacco legislation because those who have passed away from lung cancer and cancers related to tobacco no longer have a voice.

Moderate: Create your own cigarette boxes: Write your own cancer story on cigarette boxes, and send them to lawmakers urging them to support anti-tobacco legislation.

Involved: (Visual Demonstration) Fill campus grounds with black flags to

represent those who are affected by lung cancer. Invite campus officials, local legislators, and students to campus to witness the effect tobacco has on college students. Encourage attendees to sign petitions and contact their legislators.

Breast Cancer Activities:

Easy: Valentine’s Day cards (February): Send cards to legislators to remind

them to increase funding for breast and cervical cancer screenings. Mother’s Day cards (May): Send cards to campus, city, and state officials to remind them of the importance of funding cancer screenings for breast and cervical cancer.

Advocacy

Involved: “Bra drop-by”: Drop off a bra (or send a bra template) to a lawmaker’s office with information about increasing funding for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and facts on breast cancer. You can alter the number of bras and

number/spacing of visits for greater impact.

Ensure Access to Quality Health Care:

Easy: Host tables with handouts and “What I Want...” access-to-care petitions.

Moderate: Forum on the uninsured: Feature students, faculty, and guest speakers on a panel discussion on the effects of poor access to health care services.

Involved: Cover the Uninsured Week (March): Plan events highlighting the millions of uninsured during Cover the Uninsured Week. Include presentations, games, raffles, forums, and chalking, along with a media campaign (letters to the editor and articles in local newspapers).

Relay For Life/Advocacy Best Practices:

Easy: Include advocacy updates at monthly meetings.

Moderate: Advocacy tent: At your Relay For Life event, have a tent dedicated to advocacy where attendees can fill out electronic Picture A Cure®

petitions, take other online action, and join ACS CAN.

Involved: Fight Back Ceremony: This emotionally powerful ceremony at Relay For Life events inspires participants to take action. It is generally held for 15-20 minutes and encourages participants to make a commitment to save a life as well as sign a banner or pledge card to take action. (Participants can also make a Fight Back pledge

Advocacy

Online Resources:

• acscan.org

– Talking points for legislative priorities – Relay For Life Advocacy Guidebook – ACS CAN ads

– ACS CAN promotional videos

• acscan.org/cac

– CAC calendar

– CAC Advocacy Guidebook

– Contact information for you advocacy staff partner – Updates on our national CAC advocacy priorities

How to … and Legal Guidance

How to Contact Your Legislators

There are three main ways you can contact your legislators: by letter, phone, or email. For information, see the following document. To find out who your elected officials are, visit acscan.org. When meeting with or writing to a legislator, remember to utilize these three items:

Hook: Tell the official who you are. Make sure they know that you are their constituent.

Line: Tell the official your personal cancer story and why you are passionate about saving lives from cancer.

Sinker: Be sure to include your request or “ask” in the conversation or letter. Be specific! Don’t forget that this is the main reason you are meeting with an official or writing to them. When referring to a bill, be as specific as possible by using both the bill’s name and number.

Advocacy

How to plan and implement a successful meeting with your legislators 1) Plan.

• At a CAC meeting, pick a topic that students would like to discuss with a

state legislator (making towns smoke-free, etc.).

• Visit acscan.org to find pertinent issues of legislation in your state and do

background research on the topic chosen.

• Visit acscan.org to find the contact information for your advocacy staff

partner in your Division. Work with this person and your Society staff partner to coordinate a meeting with a legislator.

• Hold a meeting to ask for students’ input on the selected topic.

• Pick one or two CAC members to speak about the topic at the meeting.

(Ask them to prepare a small speech.) 2) Execute.

• Be EARLY and be PREPARED!

• Introduce yourself as a member of Colleges Against Cancer.

• Give your prepared speech to convey the message to legislators – why the

issue is important to CAC and why it should be important to them. Be sure to incorporate your personal story.

• Make sure CAC members know that if they are asked a question and they

are unsure of the answer that they should follow up with their advocacy

staff partner. NEVER make up any information if you do not know an

answer to a question.

• Thank the CAC members for coming, and thank the legislator for taking

time to meet with them. 3) Evaluate.

• Send a thank-you card to the legislators and Society staff who attended. • Be sure to follow up with the legislators if you asked them for specific

action.

• Review the event at the next meeting. Decide what went well and what

could be improved upon.

• Document the event and suggestions for next year’s leadership.

• Post your activity on the CAC online community to inspire other schools,

Advocacy

Legal Guidance

Because the American Cancer Society is a public charity, it cannot support or oppose political candidates or parties. The following guidelines will help you as you plan for or work at a CAC event.

Q: May we endorse a candidate at a CAC event?

A: No. The Society and representatives of the Society cannot make a formal or informal endorsement of a candidate for local, state, or national public office. Moreover, you cannot use Society resources to support or oppose candidates. So the Society cannot make a financial or in-kind contribution, which includes providing mailing lists, facilities, or opposition research, to a candidate or political party.

Q: Can a candidate campaign while at a CAC event?

A: No. No one may campaign for a candidate or a political party at a CAC event. Further, no campaign materials may be posted or otherwise distributed at a CAC event.

Q: Can we invite an elected official who is not a candidate to a CAC event?

A: Yes. You may invite a legislator or other public official to any CAC event.

Q: Can we invite an elected official who is also a candidate to attend or speak as an elected official at a CAC event?

A: Yes. An elected official who is also a candidate may be invited to appear or speak at a CAC event as long as:

– The individual is chosen solely for reasons other than candidacy for public office (for example, the individual has been a long-standing supporter of funding for cancer research, or the event is located in his legislative district).

– The individual attends only as an elected official (and not as a candidate), and the Society clearly indicates the capacity in which the individual is appearing (for example, the individual is introduced as the mayor, and not as someone the Society would like to see in the mayor’s office for the next four years).

Advocacy

– In connection with the event, neither the individual nor the Society makes any mention of the candidacy or the election before, during, or after the event.

– No campaign activity occurs, and the Society maintains a nonpartisan atmosphere at the event.

Q: If we invite an elected official who is also a candidate to attend or speak as an elected official, do we also have to invite his opponent(s)?

A: No. As long as the elected official who is also a candidate is properly invited to appear or speak at the CAC event in his capacity as an elected official (see Question 4 above), his opponents do not have to be invited. If, however, a candidate is invited to attend an event in his capacity as a candidate (see Question 6 below), the Society must provide an equal opportunity to all viable political candidates seeking the same office to participate.

Q: Can we invite a candidate to attend a CAC event in his capacity as a candidate?

A: Yes. A candidate may be invited to attend a CAC event in his capacity as a candidate as long as:

– The Society provides an equal opportunity to participate to all viable political candidates seeking the same office (for example, the Society is not permitted to invite one candidate to attend at the heavily attended event if the other candidate is invited to attend only at a sparsely attended event).

– The Society does not indicate support or opposition to the candidate (including candidate introductions and communications concerning the candidate’s attendance).

– No campaign activity (including political fundraising) occurs during or in connection with the event.

Q: Can we invite a candidate to speak at a CAC event in his capacity as a candidate?

A: It depends. It is possible that one or more candidates may be able to speak at a CAC event, but the rules governing this area are tricky and heavily dependent on the surrounding facts and circumstances of the event. For example, the

Advocacy

Society cannot host a candidate debate or otherwise ask candidates to respond to questions at an event because the event would focus on a narrow range of issues – specifically those related to cancer and health. If you would like to have one or more candidates speak at a CAC event in their capacity as candidates, please contact your Society staff partner, who will contact the advocacy legal team.

Q: How should we invite an elected official or a candidate to a CAC event?

A: Send a written letter or invitation to the elected official or the candidate and keep a copy. Include the following disclaimer in your letter or invitation:

Please note that as a condition of its tax-exempt status, the Society is prohibited from supporting or opposing any candidate for public office. Even the

appearance of support or opposition creates a risk to the Society’s ability to continue to operate as a public charity. Accordingly, this invitation must not be treated as support by the Society for any candidacy or as opposition to any candidacy. In connection with your participation in this Society event, we ask that you, our staff, and your volunteers help us comply with these requirements by refraining from mentioning or promoting your or anyone else’s candidacy or the election, distributing campaign literature, or soliciting or receiving campaign contributions. If any statement or activity appears to indicate that the Society endorses a candidate, the Society will issue a public statement to clarify that it did not, in fact, endorse the candidate. For example, we ask that campaigns not use footage or photographs taken at the event or depictions of Society or ACS CAN logos, such as those that appear on T-shirts, signs, and other event banners.

Q: Can I volunteer for or contribute money to a candidate outside of the Society?

A: Yes. You may definitely volunteer your own time or give your own money to a candidate. However, when doing so, do not hold yourself out as a representative of the Society, and do not use any Society resources, including email, telephones, photocopiers, or office space.

Advocacy

Effective Programs

An advocate is someone who supports or speaks in favor of something. Anyone can be an advocate. By taking part in something you believe in, you are participating in advocacy. With regards to Colleges Against Cancer, advocacy can take many forms, including:

• Encouraging students to vote • Writing and signing petitions

• Fighting for equal access to insurance coverage for cancer patients • Communicating with public officials

• Raising awareness on campus • Sharing YOUR story

Target Students:

• Pre-law students

• Political science students

• Gender or ethnic studies students • Student congress

• Students involved with Rock the Vote • Athletes

Best Practices:

• Invite students to complete the Picture A Cure activity.

• Research smoking regulations on campus, and start a campaign to

enforce them.

• Work to make your campus completely smoke-free.

• Meet with your legislators to make cancer a legislative priority for your community/state.

• Register voters and provide information on where the candidates stand on

cancer-related issues.

• At Relay For Life, set up a table and recruit students for ACS CAN; distribute

Advocacy

Meet Your Legislators Planning Worksheet

Plan.

• At a CAC meeting, pick a topic that students would like to discuss with a

state legislator (making workplaces smoke-free, increasing funding for cancer research, providing equal access to health care).

• Visit acscan.org to find pertinent issues of legislation in your state, and do

background research on the topic chosen.

• Ask your Society staff partner to help you get in touch with the advocacy staff

for your state. (He can help you get advocacy information and help you contact a legislator.)

• Hold a meeting to rally students. (Ensure it is welcoming and an appropriate size

for the number of people expected.)

• Pick one or two CAC members to speak about the topic at the meeting by

asking them to prepare a short speech.

Promote.

• At your next CAC meeting, distribute fliers for students to post in their

residence halls, kiosks, and bulletin boards.

• Send out mass emails to gain student interest and share information via

Facebook and other relevant social networks.

• Invite local community members. Check with your Society staff partner to see if

there are health organizations in your community that would be interested in attending.

Execute.

• Be EARLY and PREPARED – first impressions are very important!

• Introduce yourself as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society Colleges

Against Cancer program.

• Give your prepared speech to convey the message to legislators why the issue

is important to CAC, and why it should be important to them. Remember that your elected officials are there to represent and serve you.

• Make sure CAC members know that if they are asked a question and they are

unsure of the answer, to pass it to your Society staff partner.

Advocacy

• Send a thank-you card to the legislators and Society staff who attended. Ask

the advocacy staff if they have already prepared one!

• Review the event at the next meeting. Decide what went well and what could

be improved upon.

• Document the event and suggestions for next year’s leadership.

• Share your activity at [email protected] to inspire other schools, and share details

Importance of Cancer Education

By educating others about cancer prevention and early detection, the Colleges Against Cancer Cancer Education Committee can increase awareness of what campuses can do to help students stay well and reduce cancer risk. We focus on addressing the unique risks that college students encounter, which in turn can help students develop healthy lifelong habits and lower their risk of cancer.

As a member of your campus community, you have crucial insight into the common factors or behaviors that may pose a risk for cancer. By working with your local American Cancer Society office, you can help address these specific issues. For instance, you may help raise awareness among a particular racial or ethnic group about a cancer that occurs with higher incidence within their community. Or you might focus on providing information about the link between smoking and cancer in specific locations on campus where high-risk behavior such as smoking is more prevalent. Topics included in this guidebook will help you educate your campus about breast cancer, tobacco use, and reducing cancer risk through healthy living. Together, we can save lives from cancer by helping people stay well through taking steps to prevent cancer or detect it early, helping people get well by guiding them through every step of the cancer experience, finding cures through funding and conducting groundbreaking research, and fighting back by encouraging lawmakers to do their part to defeat cancer and by rallying communities to join the fight. Thanks to this work, 11 million cancer survivors in America and countless others who have avoided the disease will celebrate a birthday this year. Thank you for all you do to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Education

Cancer

Education

Suggested Timeline

October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

• Pick a week to hold events on your campus such as “Paint Your Campus

Pink Week.”

November: The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout®

• Encourage smokers on campus to join smokers across the nation by making a

plan to quit for good on the third Thursday in November. The event challenges people to stop using tobacco products and raises awareness of the many resources available to help.1

Spring: Healthy Living

• Help your campus welcome spring through events to promote healthy habits,

such as exercising and eating right.

April: Relay For Life

• Plan activities to be held throughout your Relay For Life event to educate

participants about ways to reduce their risk of cancer and live healthier lifestyles.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast Cancer Statistics (2009 estimates)2

• New cases:

– Women: 192,370 – Men: 1,910

• Deaths per year:

– Women: 40,610 – Men: 440

• Five-year relative survival rate for localized stages: 98 percent • Five-year relative survival rate for all stages combined: 89 percent • Ten-year relative survival rate for all stages combined: 81 percent

Basic Facts:

Cancer

Education

• The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass or other physical

signs like generalized swelling of part of the breast, skin irritation or dimpling, nipple pain or retraction, redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin, or spontaneous discharge

Who is at risk?

• Gender: Being a woman is the greatest risk factor for breast cancer; however,

men can develop breast cancer.

• Age: The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. Half of all breast

cancers are diagnosed in women older than 61 years.

• Breast cancer risks are higher among women with a family history of the

disease. Having a first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) with breast cancer increases a woman’s risk.

Additional Risk Factors:

• Taking hormone therapy after menopause (especially combined estrogen and

progesterone therapy)

• Being overweight or obese, especially when weight is gained after menopause • Use of alcohol, especially one or more drinks daily

• Being inactive

• Having a long menstrual history

• Never having children or having first live birth after age 30 • Having had chest radiation to treat a different cancer

Prevention and Detection

We do not know how to prevent breast cancer, but it is possible to reduce the risk of developing the disease. Lifestyle factors such as reducing alcohol use, breast-feeding, engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a healthy diet with at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day are all associated with lower risk.

The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chances for successful treatment. A mammogram is the best detection method that we have today; however, some cancers that are not apparent on a mammogram may still be felt by a woman or her health care provider. For this reason, the American Cancer Society recommends the following guidelines for finding breast cancer early:

• Women age 40 and older should have a mammogram every year and should

Cancer

Education

• Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) by a

health professional every three years. After age 40, women should have CBE every year.

• Women should know how their breasts normally feel and report any breast

changes promptly to their health care provider. Beginning in their early 20s, women should be told about the benefits and limitations of breast self-examination (BSE). Women who choose to do BSE should receive instructions.

• Women at high risk for breast cancer because of their family history, a genetic

tendency, or certain other factors should be screened with MRI in addition to mammograms. Women who think they are at higher risk should talk with their doctor about their history and whether they should have additional tests. Suggested Activities

Paint the Campus Pink Week in October

**Note: Please do not use the phrase “Think Pink,” as it’s owned by another organization. Instead use “Paint the Campus Pink!”

• Host an information table and bake sale in the quad on campus. Distribute

risk factor information and information on self-exams. You could offer a breast cancer T-shirt to students for a donation.

• During the month of October, set up tables in a central location two or three

days a week with pamphlets and brochures on breast cancer. Ask students to complete a “pink link” (a paper link) in honor or in memory of someone who has or had breast cancer and add it to a building-wide chain.

• Encourage students to participate in their local American Cancer Society Making

Strides Against Breast Cancer® _event.

• Outside of a school student center, create a large display with hundreds

of helium-fi lled pink balloons with mammogram and breast cancer facts. Give each participant a balloon to remind them to tell their moms, aunts, grandmothers, and friends to get a mammogram. Invite your college radio station to play music and offer a refreshment table with pink-iced cookies, pink lemonade, and other snacks.

• Ask local businesses to put a ribbon of pink paper in the bottom of their front

windows. Feature the businesses that participated on a flier and ask people to patronize these businesses.

• Set up a pink pinwheel display on the campus green. People can buy pinwheels

Cancer

Education

• Provide pink decorations, food, and drinks, and ask a breast cancer survivor to

speak at your Colleges Against Cancer chapter or Relay meeting. Award a prize to the member wearing the most pink.

• Host an all-pink breast cancer survivor reception. Invite breast cancer survivors

and students to attend and provide pink cake, cookies, punch, napkins, etc.

• During your Paint the Campus Pink week, cut up poster board into

postcard-size pieces and allow students to write mammogram messages to loved ones at home. These postcards will remind the women in the students’ lives to get their mammograms and allow the students to tell the women they love them. Once the postcards are created, mail them out.

• Host an all-pink day on campus – ask people to wear pink to show their

support!

• Host a breast cancer dinner as a free evening event on campus. Ask a breast

cancer survivor to speak, honor breast cancer survivors, and remember those whom we lost to breast cancer by decorating the room with pink paper hearts that bear the names of people who have been touched by breast cancer. Invite a group to perform, serve pink desserts, and provide breast cancer facts and information.

Final Thoughts

Nearly all breast cancers can be treated successfully if detected early. The most effective ways to detect breast cancer at an early, curable stage are to have an annual screening mammogram starting at age 40 and to have a clinical breast exam by a health professional every three years for women in their 20s and 30s and each year after age 40.

Please refer to the Breast Cancer Mission Toolkit document on RelayForLife.org/ relay/CAC for activity ideas for your campus!

Tobacco

Facts and Statistics

• Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature

death in the United States.2

• Tobacco use causes increased risk of cancers of the lung, oral cavity, nasal

Cancer

Education

• About 30 percent of all cancer deaths and 87 percent of lung cancer deaths can

be attributed to tobacco.5,6,7

• When smokers quit, their health improves over time, including lowering blood

pressure and reducing risk of lung cancer.2

• Young people are the chief source of new consumers for the tobacco industry.8

• The five major chemicals in cigarettes are arsenic, cadmium, lead, formaldehyde,

and ammonia.9

• Cigarettes may cause sexual impotence due to decreased blood flow to the

penis. This can prevent men from having an erection.9

Suggested Activities

The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout (GASO) is an event held every year on the third Thursday in November, and it is a great event around which to base your tobacco education activities. Smokers across the nation are encouraged to make a plan on this day to quit smoking for good. The following suggested activities work well with the GASO event, but you do not have to limit your anti-tobacco efforts to November.

On Your Campus

• Use facts and statistics to hold attention-grabbing demonstrations. • Thank those who don’t smoke by passing out candy or sugar-free gum. • Collect all of the cigarette butts on campus to display them with a sign in a

central location, saying “Your butt is showing.”

• Build a large cigarette as a piñata for people who don’t appreciate secondhand

smoke to destroy.

• Distribute hookah awareness information.

• Ask a campus bar or restaurant to sponsor a “smoke-free” night.

In Your Community

• Work with local primary and secondary schools to present tobacco education

programs organized by the CAC Cancer Education Committee.

• Contact local businesses or health clinics to get donations for “quit kits.”

Great items to include are gum, straws to chew on, or encouraging messages for quitters.

Cancer

Education

Working toward a Smoke-Free Campus

The following information has been compiled from Advocating for a Tobacco-Free Campus: A Manual for College and University Students (American Cancer Society New England Division, 2001). The following information is not the full text, but the full text is available at cancer.org.

You can take action on your campus to eliminate hazardous environments created by secondhand smoke, as well as provide support and resources to overcome addiction for your classmates who currently smoke. This information is meant to act as a starting point for your initiative. The following standards address the main components of a comprehensive campus tobacco policy:

• Prohibit smoking within all university-affiliated buildings (including residence

halls, administrative facilities, classrooms, and fraternity and sorority houses) and at all university-sponsored events – both indoors and outdoors.

• Prohibit the sale of tobacco products on campus.

• Prohibit the free distribution of tobacco products on campus, including at

fraternity and sorority houses.

• Prohibit tobacco advertisements in college-run publications.

• Provide free, accessible tobacco treatment on campus – and advertise it. • Prohibit campus organizations from accepting money from tobacco companies. • Prohibit the university from holding stock in or accepting donations from the

tobacco industry.

Forging alliances with campus groups will give your movement strength and voice. Campus groups can be active at varying levels of commitment. Here are a few ways these groups can be involved:

• Lending their names by agreeing to sign letters to the administration, letters to

the editor, etc.

• Giving you their membership list so you can distribute information to their

members

• Allowing you to use their meeting time as a forum to speak about your efforts • Actively work as a group to get petitions signed, visit administrators, and write

letters as individual members, etc. There are many other groups on campus that may take a special interest in the tobacco issue. You may have to sell the idea to others. Some of your potential allies may include:

– Health education groups

– Networks of people with disabilities – Sports teams or athletic organizations